How can an upgrade end up being a downgrade???

[vivman1107]

I decided to upgrade my CPU and ended up doing the motherboard and RAM as well.

Original specs:

CHP: Nvidia nForce 650i SLI
MB: Asus P5N-E SLI
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor E6420, dual 2.13GHz cores, 4MB L2 Cache
RAM: 4096MB Corsair DDR2 PC6400 DDR2-800 (4x1024)

New specs:

MB: Intel DX38BT
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
RAM: 2048MB Corsair DDR3-1066 (2x1024)

My original managed 9,458 in 3DMark06. With the upgrade, I only get in the 7,000's. How is this possible???

[TrinireturnofGamez]

Your CPU score is what went down or the GPU score?

 you may have a driver issue with the 8800 not liking something else in the system.

 Make sure you installed all the optimized chipset drivers etc.

Make sure all settings in BIOS are as they should be... maybe your cpu is underclocking itself?

[Arcmanov]

Hmmm...superior chipset, superior CPU......

You got me there.  The score should have broken 10K easy at stock.  I'm guessing a latency issue wrt DDR3.
(Which is a perfect example of what NOT to buy if you're buying DDR3)

On the X38 platform, it only makes sense to go DDR3 if you're getting higher performing 1200 or 1600 RAM,
but those modules are still horribly expensive, and you would have to get a motherboard that supports it of course.

Why didn't you consult with us before you upgraded?  Personally, I would not have recommended a DDR3, X38
board when there are stellar DDR2 boards in existence, like the Gigabyte GA-X38-DS4.

I'm speculating here of course.  More info is required, like the video-card used, driver versions, OS(service packs?), etc.

[Spazosaurus]

Good idea @ checking CPU and GPU score. Post some screenies of 3dmark 06 so that we can tell you what the problem is if u cant.

Check CPU-Z to see the actual clock rate of the cpu, could be that its severely underclocking itself as someone said. Also swap video and remove chipset drivers to see if there's a change at all.

[vivman1107]

Original

3DMark06



CPU-Z Memory



Upgraded

3DMark06



CPU-Z Memory

[Saxito Pau]

A CPU score of 913??? good grief!!

By chance did you check your motherboard's BIOS support for your CPU?
I think you need a BIOS Upgrade. Now.

BIOS version 1478 is required for support for E8xxx CPUs

Post up another CPU-Z screenshot which shows the Mainboard tab.

[Nephilim]

cpu is supported but according to the intel site you need a min 1478 bios revision

cpu support list
http://processormatch.intel.com/CompDB/SearchResult.aspx?Boardname=dx38bt

latest bios
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=N&Inst=Yes&ProductID=2807&DwnldID=15890&strOSs=38&OSFullName=OS%20Independent&lang=eng

having used intel boards before i can say this is a pretty common error for em, ironically, not all intel boards support all intel processors, as they use ref spec and ref spec alone on their boards, so even though a board of a certain chipset might support all intel processors under the sun from one manu it's usually not the same with an intel board.

[Arcmanov]

It has been my experience so far that even though you may have a mobo with a Yorkfield/Wolfdale supporting
chipset, you need to do a BIOS update to actually use em. 
Such was the case when I dropped in the Q9300. Although the system booted fine and ran fine, the temp readings were WAYYYY off. 
BIOS update fixed that right up.  So yeah, update it pronto, run benchies again, and let us know what transpired.

[vivman1107]

This is going to surprise you guys. I actually updated the BIOS as soon as I installed the board. It is running the newest update (1554). Those benchmark scores were done with the new BIOS.

[Philosophical45]

wow.. cpu score of 913!!!... i'm not an intel fellow so i don't know what can cause that.. Sure ur not missing drivers, or made a mistake with a bios setting.. because that cpu score is ridiculous..

[Nephilim]

try reverting to the min bios as per Intel's site - for the least it worth a shot

if you are using the stock heatsink see if it is installed properly.

I hate those push pins myself, they tend to warp the board too much for my taste, in fact, take the board outta the case, if you already haven't, and run the system bare, if the board is warped it may be shorting the solder points on the underside of the chip skt.
There is very little chance that the system would even start if that happened but better to eliminate it than to ignore it.

If all the above fail, rebuild, remove chip, see if any debris made its way underneath the chip etc.

and pray you eh get a dud

[Spazosaurus]

Get CPU-Z, or Core Temp. Check what FSB the cpu is reading at and what the multiplier value is. This will tell you the effective cpu speed.

Run some CPU intensive application (read orthos) in case cpu throttling is enabled. Load will cause the cpu to reach its max clock speed.

Take a look at what you looking for after the break...

..follow that.



Tell us your findings...

[Arcmanov]

This is going to surprise you guys. I actually updated the BIOS as soon as I installed the board. It is running the newest update (1554). Those benchmark scores were done with the new BIOS.

EHHHHHHH!!?  Well now I'm TRULY stumped.  Something is definitely wrong there.

Make sure none of the pins in the CPU socket are not bent ou of position.  They can be bent
easier than you think, and are a NIGHTMARE to fix.  One or more pins bent can cause all manner of
strange inconsistencies.

Also, as Neph said, if you're using a CPU cooler with a backplate, check and MAKE SURE that its properly
insulated.  Some boards wont boot, others will 'fry', and still others will run, with issues, if there's a short somewhere.

Are you getting any other errors?  What about CPU temps at idle and load?

[W1nTry]

Ah boy the WONDER that is Intel's retention mechanism XD, haven't had that problem with an AMD... oh.. EVER.... hmmm... lol

[Spazosaurus]

ummm...I never had trouble with intel's retention system...which is not necessarily the cause of the problem. It could be one of those boards that u need to adjust the settings in order for it to run properly. Chances are that if something was done wrong, the system would not boot at all, far less be able to run benchmarks.

[vivman1107]

So ... I called up CompUSA and asked if I could return the Intel board and the DDR3 memory. They said that I could. Apparently they have been having a lot of returns of new DDR3 supporting boards and their corporate policy is to allow them. I took the advice that you guys have been giving and went with a DDR2 board ... EVGA 780i SLI. I installed it last night but XP wouldn't boot. They did mention that in their manual and that a reinstallation of the OS would be required. I did so and here I am. I just benchmarked it and will post my updates in the benchmark threads. Thanks for all the help guys.